courtesy photo
Floral designer Brenda Boyle entertained members of the Southern Maine Garden Club with her yuletide creations earlier this month.

SPRINGVALE — Members of the Southern Maine Garden Club welcomed floral designer Brenda Boyle to their meeting at the Springvale Public Library on Nov. 7.

Boyle, of Studley Flower Gardens, Inc., in Rochester, New Hampshire, is a certified floral designer in that state.

During her presentation, Boyle created four different arrangements: two separate wreaths, a Thanksgiving wreath, and a Christmas one, each filled with various greens from her garden — boxwood, white pine, hemlock and arborvitae, to name a few. Using the various greens for such wreaths adds texture and scent, according to Boyle. She suggested changing out the ribbons and adding pine cones and Christmas ornaments.

Next, Boyle made a Christmas terrarium that held a tiny real mixed green Christmas tree that she created using Oasis and mixed greens along with miniature ornaments. The snow was made from Snow Real, a decorative product that gives you instant snow — just mix a tablespoon with a quart of water, and voila! Boyle added a tiny deer to the terrarium and received lots of “ooohhhs” and “aaahhhs” from the audience. She also made a holiday arrangement of red roses, baby’s breath, greens, ribbon and gold Christmas bulbs.

After her demonstrations, her finished designs were raffled off and four lucky club members were able to jump-start their holiday decorating.

The Southern Maine garden Club meets at Springvale Public Library at 443 Main Street on the third Wednesday of every month at 6:45 p.m. (The club met earlier this month, however, due to the Thanksgiving holiday.) The public is invited to attend all meeting.

The club will hold a holiday party at a member’s home in December, but will not meet in January or February. The club’s next meeting will be on March 20.

For more information, call Sheryl Rothstein at 490-7147 or Donna Claveau at 603-332-4860.